Ali irked White America - and loved it

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In one of the most famous sports photos ever taken, Muhammad Ali stands over fallen challenger Sonny Liston, shouting and gesturing shortly after dropping Liston with a short hard right to the jaw on May 25, 1965, in Lewiston, Maine. John Rooney/Associated Press

Referee John LoBianco directs champion Muhammad Ali to a neutral corner before he started the knockout count over challenger Zora Folley in seventh round of heavyweight little fight. Ali was declared victor on a knockout at 1:48 of the round in fight in New York's Madison Square Garden, March 22, 1967. Associated Press

After a several year absence from Celebrity Fight Night, Muhammad Ali sits at the dais during Celebrity Fight Night at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix on Saturday, April 9, 2016. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X outside the Trans-Lux Newsreel Theater on Broadway at 49th Street in New York on March 1, 1964. They had just watched a screening of films on Ali's title fight with Sonny Liston in Miami Beach, Feb. 25. Associated Press

Cassius Clay, who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali, points to a sign he wrote on a chalk board in his dressing room on Nov. 15, 1962, before his fight against Archie Moore in Los Angeles, predicting he'd knock Moore out in the fourth round, which he went on to do. Harold P. Matosian/Associated Press

Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison of The Beatles take a fake blow from Cassius Clay, who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali, while visiting the heavyweight contender at his training camp in Miami Beach, Fla., on Feb. 18, 1964. AP

A workman fixes lettering on to the wall by the Ali 'split glove' from the 1963 fight v Henry Cooper at Wembley, when Ali's (at the time known at Cassius Clay) glove split in the forth round - at the preview of the 'I Am The Greatest' Muhammad Ali exhibition at the O2 on March 3, 2016 in London, England. Chris Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Cassius Clay's handlers hold him back as he reacts after he is announced the new heavyweight champion of the world on a seventh round technical knockout against Sonny Liston at Convention Hall in Miami Beach, Fla., on Feb. 25, 1964. Associated Press

Muhammad Ali, or Cassius Clay, as he was known at the time, is shown during the heavyweight title fight against Sonny Liston in Miami Beach, Fla., Feb. 25, 1964. The bout lasted only one minute into the first round. Associated Press

A curator handles a replica of the Cassius Clay 1964 Championship belt - at the preview of the 'I Am The Greatest' Muhammad Ali exhibition on March 3, 2016 in London, England. Chris Ratcliffe, Getty Images

Curator Shannon Pratt polishes a case containing a signed 'Float like a butterfly sting like a bee' robe worn by cornerman Bundini Brown at the 'Rumble in the Jungle' fight - at the preview of the 'I Am The Greatest' Muhammad Ali exhibition on March 3, 2016 in London, England. Chris Ratcliffe, Getty Images

Cassius Clay's handlers hold him back as he reacts after he is announced the new heavyweight champion of the world on a seventh round technical knockout against Sonny Liston at Convention Hall in Miami Beach, Fla., on Feb. 25, 1964. Associated Press

In this March 18, 2016 photo, the childhood home of Muhammad Ali is seen in Louisville, Ky. The home has been purchased and restored over the last nine months and is being transformed into a museum. Dylan Lovan/Associated Press

The G.I. generation that carried itself with quiet grace after winning World War II could not easily embrace the fast-talking prizefighter who not only refused to serve his country in Vietnam but adopted a radical faith that preached racial separatism and the idea that White men are devils.

Shortly after Ali beat Sonny Liston in 1964 to win the heavyweight championship of the world, he irked White America by changing his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali.

Sports writers snarled. They refused to call him by his new name. So did the boxer Ernie Terrell, whose act of disrespect earned him a thrashing in the ring. Ali taunted and beat him mercilessly, shouting “What’s my name!” “What’s my name!,” until Terrell’s face looked like, in the fight announcer’s word, “hamburger.”

Ali did not have the face of a prizefighter — the blunt nose and scarred eyes that bespeak years of abuse. His face was luminous and baby-smooth, unblemished by time in the arena.

He could take a punch, but mostly dodged and dipped so quickly that opponents simply missed. They exhausted themselves trying to punch the darting pretty boy, while he landed blows to their head and body.

How did he go from brash to beloved?

How did Ali the brash become Ali the venerable?

How did the "Louisville Lip" become so beloved that NBA superstars on the U.S. Olympic “Dream Team” gleefully swarmed him in 1996 the way bobby-socksers once swarmed Frank Sinatra?

How is it that Ali’s death this past week was not just front-page news across the world but the magnification of one of the greatest lives ever lived?

Drive and determination were surely part of it. They made the boxer.

But his times made Muhammad Ali.

His greatest fights came outside the ring

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Scott Reid puts up a butterfly and a bee at an impromptu memorial for Muhammad Ali outside Scottsdale Osborne Medical Center on June 4, 2016 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Ali was famous for the saying, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Patrick Breen/The Republic

Scott Reid holds his daughter Irelynne as they and Mustafaa Abdullah (R) reflect on the passing of Muhammad Ali at an impromptu memorial for the famed boxer outside Scottsdale Osborne Medical Center on June 4, 2016 in Scottsdale, Ariz. , Patrick Breen/The Republic

Bob Gunnell a family spokesman for the Muhammad Ali family, walks off the podium after speaking at a press conference discussing funeral arrangements for Muhammad Ali, at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Saturday, June 4, 2016. Ali passed away on June 3, 2016. David Wallace, David Wallace/The Republic

Bob Gunnell a family spokesman for the Muhammad Ali family, speaks at a press conference discussing funeral arrangements for Muhammad Ali, at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Saturday, June 4, 2016. Ali passed away on June 3, 2016. David Wallace, David Wallace/The Republic

Ruby Hyde holds up a photo of a young Muhammad Ali during his early boxing days in Louisville. Flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

"We're gonna miss him," said 10-year-old Glenn Chaplin, at right, as he attended the flag-lowering ceremony to honor Muhammad Ali Saturday morning at City Hall. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

"Today, Muhammad AliÕs fellow Louisvillians join the billions whose lives he touched worldwide in mourning his passing, celebrating his legacy, and committing to continue his fight to spread love and hope,Ó said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer during the flag-lowering ceremony to honor Muhammad Ali Saturday morning at City Hall. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

Ruby Hyde holds up a photo of a young Muhammad Ali during his early boxing days in Louisville. Flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

In honor of Muhammad Ali, flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

Malcom Mitchell, 9, holds a Muhammad Ali poster after he attended a ceremony Saturday morning honoring the world-famous Louisville boxer and humanitarian. Flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people to honor the boxing legend, who died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

In honor of Muhammad Ali, flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

"Today, Muhammad AliÕs fellow Louisvillians join the billions whose lives he touched worldwide in mourning his passing, celebrating his legacy, and committing to continue his fight to spread love and hope,Ó said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer during the flag-lowering ceremony to honor Muhammad Ali Saturday morning at City Hall. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

In honor of Muhammad Ali, flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

Mayor Greg Fischer speaks during a ceremony Saturday morning honoring Muhammad Ali. Flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

Malcom Mitchell, 9, holds a Muhammad Ali poster after he attended a ceremony Saturday morning honoring the world-famous Louisville boxer and humanitarian. Flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people to honor the boxing legend, who died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

One and a half year old Mikah Tutt wears boxing gloves in honor of Muhammad Ali as his mother Jamie Daniels holds him Saturday morning at City Hall. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. The pair were part of nearly 200 people who attended a flag-lowering ceremony at City Hall to honor the Louisville legend. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

"Today, Muhammad AliÕs fellow Louisvillians join the billions whose lives he touched worldwide in mourning his passing, celebrating his legacy, and committing to continue his fight to spread love and hope,Ó said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer during the flag-lowering ceremony to honor Muhammad Ali Saturday morning at City Hall. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

In honor of Muhammad Ali, flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people. The boxing legend died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

Kurt Muhammad stops by Muhammad Ali's childhood home Saturday morning to pay her respect. He says he followed in Ali's footsteps by becoming a boxer and then a Muslim. "He made me a better person."
June 4, 2016 Scott Utterback/The CJ

Ruby Hyde holds a photo of Muhammad Ali when he was known as Cassius Clay being trained by Fred Stoner in the early 1960s after she attended a ceremony Saturday morning honoring the world-famous Louisville boxer and humanitarian. Flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people to honor the boxing legend, who died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

Ruby Hyde holds a photo of Muhammad Ali when he was known as Cassius Clay being trained by Fred Stoner in the early 1960s after she attended a ceremony Saturday morning honoring the world-famous Louisville boxer and humanitarian. Flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people to honor the boxing legend, who died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

Ruby Hyde holds a photo of Muhammad Ali when he was known as Cassius Clay being trained by Fred Stoner in the early 1960s after she attended a ceremony Saturday morning honoring the world-famous Louisville boxer and humanitarian. Flags were lowered outside City Hall Saturday morning during a ceremony that attracted more than 200 people to honor the boxing legend, who died Friday at age 74. Matt Stone/The Courier-Journal

J.R. Billman and his daughter Malika, 1, attended the flag lowering ceremony at Metro Hall in honor of Muhammad Ali who passed away yesterday. She was dressed as a butterfly.
June 4, 2016 Sam Upshaw Jr./The CJ

Momentous events were colliding in the 1960s when young Cassius Clay came calling upon the boxing world. The Vietnam War was about to start chewing up young Americans in the jungles of southeast Asia. And in America, racial bigotry was smothering Black ambition and opportunity.

Ali made himself great by using his boxing platform to declare his emancipation, to announce to the world that Muhammad Ali was his own man.

"Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn't choose it and I don't want it,” he said. “I am Muhammad Ali, a free name — it means 'beloved of God' — and I insist people use it when people speak to me and of me."

They say there are no other athletes like Ali. But there are and they are rare. Pat Tillman may be the best example, giving up money and career for ideals larger than his sport. But Tillman, unlike Ali, was not the best athlete in his sport. Not even close. And his times were not nearly as fateful.

Ali risked his boxing career and prison to refuse the draft, saying “I ain’t got nothing against them Vietcong.”

Ali rejected the idea that he had a place

He defied an America where Blacks were still considered dirty and sub-human.

When he won boxing gold in the 1960 Rome Summer Games, he returned home to Louisville and was refused entrance to restaurants and dubbed “The Olympic N*****.”

His people were supposed to know their place. But Ali spit at that. His place was wherever and whatever pleased him. And it pleased him to agitate the racist majority.

In so doing he brought hope and profound delight to Black men and women.

“He lived a lot of lives for a lot of people,” said the comedian and civil rights leader Dick Gregory. “He was able to tell White folks for us to go to hell.”

He said as much with his actions, particularly when he joined the Nation of Islam.

He took a cruel view and glowered back

“The notion he’d do it — that he’d jump out there, join this group that was so despised by mainstream America, and be proud of it — sent a little thrill through you,” said Julian Bond, social activist and leader in the Civil Rights movement.